Rollin', rollin', rollin'

I don't think Maddy is one bit pleased at Libby's latest trick ... rolling over, then pinning her down in wrestler-like moves. It does give Maddy a good opportunity to stick her thumb in Libby's mouth, or her finger in her ear, or for easy pacifier stealing.

Can't you feel the love?

Baby Food Making, Attempt One

Well, I guess it's really my 2nd time ... I baked and pureed a sweet potato for the girls last week. Today, was butternut squash. I know I've never bought a butternut squash and I may have tried one, but I think it was in a ravioli?

The one I bought looked like a gourd and I wasn't sure if to use the stem part, so I didn't. It smelled and felt like a pumpkin when scooping out the seeds. I just used the round part and I was surprised that I didn't end up with more "meat." Maybe I should have used the stem. I cut it in quarters and baked it for 45 minutes, then scooped out the meat, and gave it a blend with our hand-held food processor thing.

Sorry for the blurry photo ... aren't the pink ice cube trays so cute?

Anyway, here it is pureed and in the cute little silicone ice cube trays, ready for the freezer. I saved a portion to use for dinner later on today. I guess to get 9 servings out of one squash is still very cost-effective. The squash cost $3.00, so about 33 cents a serving. The organic squash baby food was $1.49 a container, which is 2 servings, so about 75 cents a serving. I'm not trying this out solely for cost savings, but also that it seems pretty easy to do, plus it's fresher and not sitting on a shelf for two years.


Now, don't get me wrong ... I still consume plenty of processed and packaged foods and I'm sure the girls will later on in life as well. Which we really shouldn't eat the crap, but I guess I would rather start the girls out with as fresh and healthy of foods as possible. If they turn out like me, I'm sure they will discover Wheat Thins and Hot Tamales all on their own!

Chili Day

Just like in elementary school ... well, I wish! I can remember back in Elementary School when it was the day that they were serving Chili for the school lunch, they would also serve a cinnamon roll for dessert. Yum! I think that was about the only day that I would eat the school lunch.

I've been wanting to make chili lately, but haven't wanted to make the time to find a good recipe and let it simmer for 6+ hours. I lucked out yesterday when I went to my favorite place for when we need something good for dinner, but again have no time to cook, which is often lately. Best chicken pot pies, ever! Anyway, I found out that Saturdays are "Buy one, get one 1/2 off" soups and entrees! I bought two types of chili - regular and southwest and plan to have the regular later today.

Do you eat in plain or with toppings? I think it's great with cheese, Frito scoops, and maybe a little sour cream or jalapenos on top.

Growing up

I just packed up a box of 4-ounce bottles, since they were taking up cabinet space and we haven't used them in months. Sigh. It's so hard for me to believe that 6 months has flown by this quickly! Some days, it seems like only yesterday we were making daily trips to the NICU and Maddy and Libby were eating out of the little NICU bottles that look like baby doll bottles. I think they may hold 2 ounces, plus they were taking about 22 ml, which isn't even an ounce and they normally would end up finishing those bottles via their feeding tubes.

It just seems so long away now and it's hard to remember them being this small. I'm sure it will be even harder to remember when they turn 13 and are wearing their generations version of Maddona t-shirts, and I will look back at these pictures and smile. Or maybe cry. Or both!

Mix it up

I recently found this mixing pitcher, made by Dr. Brown's. We have always used their bottles and have loved them. This may be my new fave, plus it's BPA free.

It holds up to 40 ounces and has a mixing wheel inside of the pitcher to easily mix formula. It really worked well - no clumps and it has a spout so you can easily pour the formula into bottles.

It's nice to have a large batch of formula made, so no more making up small increments of formula whenever it's time to eat. It definitely is a time saver and when you have a hungry baby or babies on your hands, that time is precious.

Amazon has them listed around $40, but last week, I found it for around $25.

teething

Could Zoe, the nearly five year old lab be teething? She has managed to destroy two new teething toys that obviously (to every one but her) belonged to someone else. Luckily, I caught her with the 3rd toy before she started chewing. Of course she picks the new toys from Christmas and not the hand me down toys!

I really need to find a way to attach the leashes to the stroller so I can walk everyone at once. I know they are in need of more exercise and attention ... we're just having a hard time giving it to them.

I did it

Just had to put this out there, if nothing else but for me and my own documentation.

I signed up for a 5K running program, since it's been oh, I don't know, about 18 months since I've ran or jogged. We were supposed to start last night, but due to heavy rains we are starting on Thursday night. I'm looking forward to getting back into it ... the program is women only and you are given a personalized training program that will culminate with a 5K race in March.

Since I still thought I should get in some kind of workout, I ended up going to the gym and did the elliptical, then ran and walked on the treadmill. Not for long, but it felt good to run again. Well, it finally did when I got used to the way my hips, boobs, and other body parts jiggled and shook to the beat. Once I got used to that again, then I was fine.

I think that feeling is the worst part of running, at least for me. That feeling that your hips are swaying back and forth and may actually become a big ol' swinging pendulum of their own.

Oh well ... I did it and I'm looking forward to more. I also discovered that the Katy Perry Hot N Cold song is a good running song. A bit cheesy, but good to add to your running mixes.

Day One

I feel like it's Day One of my "new" job. This is the first day that I've worked without parents or Hubby around since I started, so it's up to me to work, take care of the girlies, and play on Facebook, I mean work really hard today. Here's to hoping that I can get some work accomplished today, and all of the girls (myself included) out of their PJ's and into real clothes!

All I can say is Thank God for email. I've been emailing and working since around 7AM. I could never do that if I had to be on the phone.

So far, so good. Libby is awake and downstairs with me. She's currently entertaining herself with a toy in each hand and trying her hardest to insert the largest toy, in it's entirety in her mouth. Maddy is sleeping and I'm tuning in via baby monitor.

So, here's hoping to a good first day and for all of you who are back in the office after a two-week break, I'm going to get myself a second cup of coffee ... how about you?

Down the drain ... or more literally, in the landfill

How is it that I have been to Target exactly three times since December 29 and really don't have anything to show for it? Besides a few cute mercury glass candle holders and a new pair of yoga pants? And, how is it that the two cans of formula that were purchased there are G-O-N-E and we had to make the late night run to the grocery store last night to purchase two more? I also want to know how that for the measly amount of things that I bought today, how was my total $124.58? Humph.

Over Christmas, one of our relatives was asking us how many diapers, cans of formula, etc. we used in a week and I don't think we have really ever added it up, but I can tell you it's scary.

2 babies x 6 to 8 diapers a day = 12 to 16 per day x 7 days a week = 84 to 112 per week. Wow!

Formula ... I don't have a great calculation to use here. M & L both drink about 6 1/2 ounces of formula and breast milk, usually 5 times a day, so 2 babies x 32.5 ounces = 65 ounces per day x 7 days = 455 ounces per week. The amount of formula depends on how well "Bessie" has been making the milk that day. Sometimes I've noticed that Bessie's left side gets a little lazy, and that Bessie likes to get into the wine at night, so that gets thrown out. Let's just say that formula goes quick around here.

What else is in high demand these days? Bibs, pacifiers, burp cloths, lovies, and M & L's towel dolls, oh and we can't forget OxiClean. Never enough!

Happy New Year!

I still can't believe that 2009 is here. 2008 flew by, especially the last six months for obvious reasons.

I would rather look toward the future, but I can't help remember that last year on New Year's Eve, Hubby and I ended up at the hospital for a little scare early in my pregnancy. Nothing was wrong, but I will say that it was the craziest place I had ever spent a New Year's Eve. Women who I think were trying to get a tax deduction would walk the halls to only be sent home. We met another woman who was there to "find out what was going on." She knew she was pregnant, but hadn't been to an OB yet. (!) Plus, I was pregnant and hungry and trying to survive on vending machine snacks.

I am really looking forward to 2009 ... it's amazing to me to think that by the end of the year, Maddy and Libby will have celebrated their 1st birthdays, be full-fledged toddlers ... eating, chatting, and walking! I am so excited for new phases, but I also want to savor each stage of their lives.

Once again, I have a new job that is fulfilling to me, plus it has so many good perks. Let's just hope that Karma is good to me this year and I can keep it. 3 layoffs in one person's career is about as much as I can handle!

I hope to spend more time with Hubby, family, and friends this year. We are lucky to have good health and happiness. Perhaps a little less sleep than before, but so worth it.

Happy New Year!

Paper chaining

My mom and I started this little craft project yesterday and I hope to finish it up today. I'm going to hang it over Maddy & Libby's cribs and changing table in their room. We originally saw it in a Land of Nod catalog and decided to make one ourselves. I feel like I've stepped back into the 3rd grade making this, but it's so much fun.

All you need is construction paper in colors of your choice, (I used orange, yellow, blue, pink and green) scissors, pencil, ruler, and glue or a stapler. We are using the stapler because it's quicker. Cut evenly sized strips of paper (around 1"-1 1/2" wide), decide if you want them random colors or in a pattern, and make some rings. The stapler makes this job go very fast.

Can't wait to get it hung and show the final project.

Merry Christmas!

I wanted to share our 1st family photo with all 6 of us. Photographing two babies is hard, but to add the dogs was quite an accomplishment!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the D family.

gowns

My parents are here visiting, and Mom and I decided to take a few more photos of Maddy and Libby in their christening gowns ... since they won't likely be putting them on again anytime soon. They have teeny tiny little buttons that are nearly impossible to button, so the entire act of getting them dressed is quite a production in itself. These dresses were from my Great Aunt Lucy's family (who Libby is named after), so it was really special that they are still in good enough condition to wear. I really hope that we can continue to use them for years to come.

We set up shop on top of our duvet cover and took almost 200 shots. I think we were all exhausted when it was over! Here are a few of my favorites for your viewing pleasure.

in my inbox

Is somebody trying to tell me something? The email said something like "have you entered yet?" Ummm, yeah ... I need to do something more than thinking about running and maybe we'll see.

pros and cons

Working from home has several pros and cons. One pro that I have noticed the most is you can literally work in your pajamas. Today, I wore my favorite Pine Cone Hill PJ's while talking on the phone, working on my computer, attending a webinar, but is it a con that at 5:15 PM, I'm still wearing them?

I guess you could say that I was just prepared early for bedtime, but you also might say that my neighbors may look at me funny when I stepped outside around 2PM to check the mail.

Hmmm, this could be really dangerous. PJ's 24/7?

Still here

It's just been a blur the past couple of weeks and I don't even know what I've done that worth mentioning! I started back to work two weeks ago and I'm loving it. There have been days that I literally worked in my pajamas. I probably shouldn't admit that, but it's wonderful! I'm still learning the ropes, but so far, so good.

We also had Maddy and Libby's christenings yesterday ... they were perfect during the service. We had no idea what they would think about the new sounds and experiences, but they were great. We had to sit up front, so they were entralled with the children's choir and the row of 8 -10 year old girls who sat in front of us. We are Methodist, but our Ministers believe in using a lot of water on the head for the christening, so they were both dripping a little, but it didn't seem to phase them. I was lucky to have 5 family dresses to choose from for the big day, so they were both in dresses that are at least 100 years old. We wish we knew the stories behind the gowns, but they have been lost over the years. They fit them well and they looked so sweet. They also loved to grab handfuls of the dresses and chew on them. Hey, a toy and dress in one!

After the church service, we hosted about 30 people for lunch. Mom and I had been busy this week ... we made 4 pans of lasagna, 2 pans of brownies, a red velvet birthday cake ... all made with love. My Mom doesn't claim to be a cook, so we had our share of mishaps along the way, but everything turned out great. We won't talk about the cheesecake that had to be thrown out ... that's another story! The day was a blur, but it was a great day of celebration ... we used my holiday china for the first time, along with my Grandmother's china, so that was special. A lot of dishes to hand wash, but nice that they were used.

Hubby also turned the big 38 yesterday, so it was fun to have family and friends around to help him celebrate.

So now it really feels like Christmas is right around the corner ... the stockings are hung, cards are mailed, some presents are purchased, wrapped, and under the tree. 10 days to go ... where did the time go??

Monkey time

Monkey's here!

To Do list

I typically feel better when I write down my to-do list. Otherwise, I just feel like all of these things are swimming around in my brain and that begins to make me feel like I'm a bit off my rocker. So here goes ...

1. Do some work. I started my new job on Monday and while it's part-time, I'm still getting the hang of truly working during the day. Things are still kind of "loose", so I've been able to just dig around on my own and look for events, see what's been done before,etc. I pulled out my old business contacts, started making a few calls, and it feels pretty good to be back in the saddle.

2. Have some fun with Monkey! He arrived yesterday afternoon, so I'm hoping to get him out and about while he's here.

3. Get some things done around the house since my parents are here - - hang a mirror, couple of pictures, put up wall monograms for Maddy and Libby, paint our cell phone cubby, etc.

4. Bring in the Christmas tree off our patio, trim it, decorate the house, hang the wreaths, etc.

5. Get ready for M&L's christenings on the 14th and also the luncheon that follows for about 30 people! Ack ... we are crazy for planning it right now, but the date worked at church so we went for it. Oh, and that also means making sure the house is clean including all of our catch all rooms that are typically ignored. Ugh.

6. Shop for Christmas ... Hubby and I are done with our gift for each other, but hardly anyone else on our list is done.

7. Get a mani/pedi. My nails look awful and are driving me crazy. I was a horrible nail "picker" when I was younger and I finally kicked that habit several years ago. Having my nails look like this makes me want to start all over again.

Now that I'm rereading that list, it doesn't seem so bad. But for some reason, it's never as easy as it looks.

Lessons learned

We had our first overnight trip with two five-month-olds for Thanksgiving and I think everything went pretty well. We did learn a few things from the trip ...

1) Don't expect two five-month-olds or any baby for that matter to not cry when brought into a loud and very busy house for the first time. We had a little bout of crying when we first arrived from what I will call "too many people in my face all at one time ... back the hell up." Luckily, they ate and then were happy to meet about 20 "strangers" who all wanted to ooh and aah over them.

2) Two babies in two pack n' plays in one bedroom makes for a sleepless night for the parents. At home, Maddy and Libby have slept in their nursery from day one and for us to all sleep in one room, we could hear every little sound they make. It was more than distracting and we woke up almost every hour. Would it be awful if the pack n' plays went in the living room for Christmas?

3) Girl cousins love babies. They looked so disappointed when I told them the girls were napping and couldn't be disturbed. Later, I found 3 of the cousins peeking in the window to see if they could see if they were really sleeping.

4) Dresses and cardigan sweaters, while so adorable are a big pain for babies to wear. The dresses just get bunched up and just seemed to get in the way. But, oh how cute are matching little dresses with white cable knit sweaters?

Edited to add photos ... for you, Leesie! My friend Lindsday took these for me last week ... I realized that I never took a photo on Thanksgiving Day (horrible Mom I know), but I'm trying to track some down from the inlaws! These are the dresses they wore, so you'll get the idea!

The list is growing ...

We're getting ready for our 1st overnight trip to the Grandparents for Thanksgiving, so I'm starting to try to pack up everything we'll need. Or at least everything we can pack in advance. We're only staying one night, so we won't need much more than our last trip, but a lot of "just in case" items. Extra "extra" clothes, Tylenol, Mylicon gas drops, more bottles, more of everything really. Oh, and I love this one that Hubby wrote down ... ALL parts to the breast pump. Honestly, every time we go over to a friends' house, I leave something behind that goes to it. Uhmm, not fun and I would definitely be in trouble for an overnight visit that lands on a holiday.

Ok, TMI I know. I claim hunger pains and having a cold since Monday and now it's causing me to just write anything that comes to mind. Off to pack!

5 month photos 11.21.08

Happy 5 month birthday girls! They love their shirts from "Aunt" Mad About Plaid Girl!

Gainfully employed (almost)

I had my interview yesterday. It went well and really didn't feel like an interview at all. First, we talked about my children and oohed and aahed over pictures. They came bearing gifts from the company, which was a very thoughtful and appreciated gesture. We met at a restaurant and enjoyed a nice meal and dessert, while they described more of what the job entails and more about the company.

So, they never asked for a resume and basically left it with "We'd love for you to join our team." Really, that's it? It's that easy? What's the catch? I heard about this job from a friend who has partnered with them in the past, so I'm assuming her recommendation may have sealed the deal. So, I asked a few questions via email last night, but I'm ready to say yes. The job will be part-time and I can work from home. It will involve a little travel, but all in North Carolina, and no more than what I had done before. So, after it's all official, we need to figure out some sort of childcare. I may try to do some work while the girls are napping, but I'd like to find someone who can come in and help with them for a few hours each week, so I can knock out uninterrupted work.

I'm excited to have found something that is so flexible and that I can do from home and still get to spend the majority of my time with M&L. So, cross your fingers and let's hope that it all works out ... the pessimist in me is still waiting for them to say, "oh, yeah we forgot to mention that this job entails you weaving tiny baskets in our damp warehouse and selling them on the corner." Let's hope not.

The parents are coming, the parents are coming ...

Their EDT was 5AM CST today. Oh, that should put them here anywhere between 2PM EST and 6PM EST. Let's just say that my parents may be one of the last couples on earth who don't have a mobile phone and drive the speed limit. Oh, and stop at every rest stop for breaks. So, I wait all day and never really know when they'll arrive. The standard 8 hour drive can take anywhere from 8 hours to close to 12.

I'm looking forward to seeing them and let's face it, more importantly for them to see the girls. We looked back to see how much Maddy and Libby weighed when they left and they have doubled their weight since then. I'm sure they are going to look like little porkers to my parents.

So, on our agenda while they're here? Thanksgiving, a photo session for Christmas cards, hopefully a Christening for Maddy and Libby, planting peonies, and hopefully getting a few pictures hung around the house.

Mom is also bringing a collection of Hallmark ornaments that she's decided she no longer wants, so she thought I would be the perfect one to put them on Ebay for her. I can hardly wait for that one, but I think I'll be reminded that Hubby and I have built in babysitters of the free variety, so how can we say no. If you are looking for a particular ornament, send me a comment and we can talk, because she may have it. She was a little obsessed with them to say the least.

So, Hubby's not drinking yet, we don't know how long they are staying, but I'm sure there should be some interesting stories along the way.

My day of "cooking"

One of the hardest things for us to figure out since the girls arrived on the scene is what to eat for dinner. When my parents were here after the girls came home, Mom had dinner on the table by 5:30 PM sharp. I don't think we've eaten that early since we were kids. It was wonderful to say the least, but they've been gone and we've burned through all the meals that were brought to us by friends. (Thank you - they were yummy.) I would try to cook something before Hubby gets home, but the timing is usually off and I'm feeding the girls, or um, playing on Facebook. So, we often find ourselves looking at each other at 7PM, asking the dreaded question, "What's for dinner?"

So, we decided to make a trip back to Let's Dish and this time we are being extremely lazy and choosing the "dish and dash" option. That means someone else even prepares the food for you. For an extra $10 and when I'm on limited time when I'm out sans children, it makes sense. So, later today, I'll be picking up chicken breasts with cranberry chutney, mini mozzarella stuffed meatloaves, a pork tenderloin, and a beef roast. We have the portions divided, so we typically can get 2-3 meals out of one dish. We've had the meals before and have found them all to be very good.

So, that is my cooking for today. One day, I really do hope to cook again on a regular basis. I mean, I do watch Martha for new recipes and subscribe to three food related magazines ... doesn't that count for something?

In amazement

Last night, I attended a Celebration of Life service for my good friend's mom whose battle with cancer ended earlier this week. While I didn't have the chance to know this woman, her daughter showed such amazing strength, dignity, and grace. It was such a sweet service, full of laughter and joy, and far few less tears. This woman fought cancer for 8-9 years and did an amazing job. From what her family shared, she never got angry, mad, or sad ... she just accepted it and knew that God was in charge.

Usually events like these always make me sad, but I left last night feeling inspired. From listening to my friend and from hearing about her mom's positive outlook on life. So, I think I will try to laugh a little louder, be more kind and giving, and take time to enjoy the little things.

This may not be 100% appropriate, but it reminds me a little of the quote from Ferris Bueller. "Life goes by pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Preparation

I have a job interview on Tuesday. I've known about it for a couple of weeks and now I can't believe that's it's almost here. So that means I have a little preparing to do this weekend - print my resume, brush up on my interview skills, read a little more about the company, oh and pray that I can find a suitable outfit to wear. I'm hoping that I can find an Ann Taylor top that I wore early in my pregnancy that let's just say, is forgiving where I need it. Oh, and heels - I don't think I've had on heels since Spring of last year!? It's kind of exciting ... my feet won't know what to think!

If my clothes don't work, I'll be doing a whirlwind shopping trip on Saturday. Not my favorite kind of shopping and that's when I usually can't find anything that works.

So, not to jinx myself about this job, but I still think it sounds too good to be true. It would be part-time, I can work from home, and they are very family friendly. I've talked to two other women who do what I would be doing and all have had nothing but good things to say about the company and their jobs. We're talking the company paying for nannies for them at the annual company retreat. So, we'll see ... my stay at home gig may be coming to an end.

I've really enjoyed my time home with the girls. They are amazing and I hope that if everything works out, then I can have someone come in to help with them a few days a week, then I won't have to feel like I'm missing out on their day to day activities. I mean, I can handle life without poop and spit-up, but those smiles. I would have to get my daily allotment of smiles.

11.12.05

It's hard to believe that three years ago, I was walking down an aisle surrounded by friends and family waiting to get a glimpse of that familiar smile.

Happy 3rd Anniversary, C! I love you! My, a lot has changed since this time last year!

Photo by Kellie Kano.

Nature walk

It's been gorgeous here the past couple of days, so I decided to take along my camera on a little nature walk to try to capture some of the pretty fall colors in our neighborhood. I don't know how much "nature" we saw on the walk ... there were several squirrels, a couple of kids, a Labrador retriever, and several Volvos ... but I will say that the fall foliage is beautiful.

Ready to go. On the walking path in our neighborhood.

Libby stayed awake for most of the walk.

Orange

Red

Yellow

Love all the trees.

Our street.

We're on the charts!

At our 4 month appointment today, we were excited to hear that Maddy and Libby made it on the growth charts. Maddy is up to 10 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 22 3/4 inches long and Libby is 11 lbs, 8.5 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long. This put Maddy in about the 5th percentile for height and weight and Libby in the 7th for weight and 10th for height. Whoo-hoo! At their 2 month check up, they didn't even show up on the charts. Our Pediatrician was very pleased with their continued growth and development. We had another round of shots (glad that's over) and they are both still snoozing after a good bout of crying.

We left with the go ahead to try rice cereal, vegetables, and fruits if we would like. I think we may try a little rice cereal this weekend and see how that goes first. Does anyone out there make their own baby food? I think I may attempt to try - my biggest problem is that we aren't the best about eating vegetables ourselves ... especially ones liked cooked carrots, squash, and peas - some of the veggies that are on the list to try. This may just force us into cooking (and eating) more veggies ... not a bad thing at all. I think it would be better for them if we make the food and also more cost effective. I know I saw a cookbook in the Williams-Sonoma catalogue ... does anyone have any good recommendations for baby food cookbooks or websites, otherwise all I'll end up making are sweet potatoes!

So a good appointment, and we left with 2 cans of our NeoSure formula. Always excited for samples, especially ones that retail for almost $20 a can and seem to be scarce on the shelves lately.

Things that make 'em cry

For the longest time, well the past 4 months, nothing has seemed to shake the girls and upset them - vacuum, TV noise, daddy's loud voice, phone ringing, doors shutting, etc. We've purposely tried not to keep the house extremely quiet, but also don't blare the TV either. We want them to be used to noise and learn how to sleep through some noises. We do have dogs that bark and I do like to vacuum our house. Well, maybe I don't really like it, but a necessary evil.

We have noticed recently that loud sneezes (like Hubby's or Zeus') will start the lower lip quivering and will result in crying. Yesterday we found a few more.

We made it to church for the first time with the girls. We were on time and I was actually wearing make-up and a skirt. Complete with just a small amount of spit-up on the bottom that I didn't notice until we were in the car. The girls were fed and looking pretty dreamy, so we opted to just carry them into church in their car seats. All was going well until the organ played. Both looked up startled and poor Maddy's lip went down immediately. Luckily, it didn't last long and they were fine for the rest of the service.

We decided that lunch would be good - we were prepared and the place we chose wasn't busy, so we rolled the train AKA double stroller right in by our table. We all had a chance to eat and I took Libby to the restroom to change her diaper. They had one of those changing tables in the stall and everything was fine until I stood to close to the automatic flusher on the toilet and it flushed. Loudly. A look of fear was on Libby's face, then she started to cry. Poor girl. I got the diaper changed and grabbed her, luckily not "flushing" the toilet again. Whew.

Lucky for us, we aren't around church organs or standing around in bathrooms that often!

What to do?

I have been a fan of the Jenny Bee Designs calendars since I found them a couple of years ago. I look forward to the 1st of the month so I can put out that month's new card. I went to their website today to find out that they won't be putting out a new calendar until 2010! I'll have to find a replacement this year. What's a girl to do?

Here's a cute one from Magnolia Grace on etsy.

Or I could opt for animals from Story by Mia.

This Tara Hogan letterpress one is pretty cool.

Paper Source has this one that I like a lot.

Or I could go the thrifty route and use the little paper one that our realtor friend sends us, but somehow it just doesn't do it for me. Decisions, decisions.

Happy Halloween!

I couldn't resist sharing a few pictures of my little pea pods. Have a fun Halloween!

Obviously Maddy is a little more excited about her costume than Libby.

Who knew peas liked pacifiers??

Have I told you lately?

Does getting pooped on by your oldest daughter mean she's trying to tell you that she loves you? She did smile at me afterward ... I guess that counts for something.

Strollin'

After no outdoor time since Thursday, we finally made it out of the house this afternoon. Hubby came home sick Thursday afternoon, it hit me on Saturday night, so Hubby and I have been doing some serious single-parenting over the past few days, trying to keep the girls out of harms way. So far, so good. It has been a blur of sickness, washing everything in sight, eating the BRAT diet, and using an obscene amount of anti-bacterial everything. Why does getting sick always rekindle my love of applesauce?

I think Maddy and Libby were as ready to go for a walk as we were. They were bundled up with their little hats, blankets up to their chins, and at one point all you could see on Libby were two eyes and a pacifier. Note to self - start bringing cameras on walks. After our walk, they both ate and immediately fell asleep. Ahhhh, babies sleeping, dogs snoring, and Hubby watching football. Not a bad Monday night.

Gifts!

I took a chance and entered a contest over at the Gifting Gumshoe and I won! Whoo-hoo! The Gifting Gumshoe always posts about great gift ideas, so if you need a little inspiration for upcoming birthdays, baby showers, or the holidays, be sure to check her out.

My great gift is a monogrammed chair cover from Sewgirlie. It will really dress up my outdoor chair for the next time we go to a Sunday Music in the Park. This might also be good for those parties where your chair always seems to be taken by someone else. Hmmmm ... there won't be any denying whose chair this is! Sewgirlie was so prompt with the order and they have tons of personalized products on their site. Lots of great gift ideas.

I was also nominated by the Gifting Gumshoe for the Kreativ Blogger award, so as part of that I should list 6 things that make me happy. I am also supposed to tag six others, but I am always horrible at that, so please consider yourself tagged and if you were having trouble finding blog fodder today, here you go.

6 things that make me happy are ...

1. Crisp fall days where the sun is shining, but it's cool enough for a long sleeved shirt or jeans. It's the perfect day to be in the yard or take a walk and it feels great to feel the sun on your face.

2. My family - Hubby, the babies, the dogs. They all do their part to make me smile and laugh every day and it really doesn't get much better than that. It doesn't matter if it's seeing smiles from the girls, or watching Hubby read to the girls, or the way that the pups wag their big ol tails so excitedly.

3. Good music. This has always done it for me. It doesn't really matter on the genre, but a good song always seems to lighten my mood and make me sing out loud. Yeah, you probably don't want to be in the car with me when this happens, but it still makes me happy.

4. Bringing in the Christmas tree. I love the smell of it and the excitement and anticipation of the season.

5. The feeling after a good long run. I love the way you feel when you're running and you just feel really strong and light in your steps. You're tired and sweaty when you're done and maybe that's the part that feels so good. You are finally finished and just feel so accomplished. Oh, and that long drink of cold water has never tasted so good when you are done!

6. House parties. I love sitting down with good friends and catching up in the warmth of someone's home. This is of course made better with good food and wine, but I love it when the conversation just flows. It's just fun and easy.

Dinner and shots

Not those kind of shots, but Synagis for RSV. The girls were approved to receive this shot and while I wasn't excited about the idea of adding a monthly shot for several months, if it will keep them from getting sick during flu season, then I'm all for it. They were little troopers and cried just for a bit and then both fell soundly asleep in their car seats while we sat and patiently waited for 20 minutes to make sure they didn't have a reaction. No reaction ... thank goodness. We did find it interesting that our insurance didn't approve them on the basis that they are twins, or were born prematurely, or their small birth weight, but because I have asthma and we have a wood burning fireplace. That we never use, but shhhhhh, don't tell.

The dinner part of my post is the goulash that I made last night. The change in temperature here has made me looking up recipes for comfort food. On my list has been goulash, brownies, shepherd's pie, chili, etc. Anyway, I forgot to take photos of my dinner making in progress, but if you are looking for a good and easy recipe that will make enough for 3 hungry adults with plenty of leftovers, you can find it here. It is great with crusty bread and salad. Oh, and red wine, but sadly I settled for water last night.

Do you find yourself changing your menu when the weather changes? What is your favorite comfort food?

Four months ago

Hubby was driving really fast to the hospital and we were just hours away from meeting our babies for the first time.

It's hard to believe that four months has flown by in what feels like the blink of an eye. Here are a few photos from earlier today.

Libby

Maddy

Maddy - Libby

Giggles from Maddy

Smiles from Libby

Crib gymnastics

I wish I would have had pictures to show this, but Libby turned a full 360 degrees in her crib last night. I still don't know how she does this without waking herself up. Hubby had checked on them around 5am and she was 180 degrees from where we put her to bed. By 7:30, she was all the way back where she started. Go figure.

I think I'm glad we opted not to use the cute bumper pads for their crib, because with the way she's moving, I think we would have been removing them sooner than later.

I kind of feel like the student cramming for final exams, except that I'm just gearing up for their 4 month appointment with our Pediatrician and working on the items she had mentioned. "More tummy time, girls!"

One thing that I've had a hard time with is putting the girls to sleep on different sides of their heads. Apparently with preemies, their heads are more oblong, so they tend to lay on their sides and not the back of their head. Most babies will get a flat spot on the back of their head, but we have the opposite problem, where they will continue to flatten out the sides and get more oblong. Our Dr. mentioned that we should try to alternate sides as well as to also place them to sleep on the back of their head. Well, Libby really seems to favor her left side and even with toys all on the right, she will still look to the left at the boring crib slats and wall. It seems that no matter which way we place her, she'll turn to have her head to the left. (I think this is also how I sleep, so maybe she's just taking after me!)

Does anyone have any recommendations on crib toys that your children really loved and would gravitate towards, or head positioners that help keep them in check?

on my mind this morning

Coffee. I swear it's close to one of the first thing I think about when I get out of bed. Not sure why, because we've been on a pretty good sleep schedule with Maddy and Libby. (I hope I'm not jinxing this as I type). We feed the girls between 8pm-10pm and put them to bed after that. Typically, they then sleep until 4am-7am. Wonderful. Not too shabby for babies of their weight, I think. I can't believe they'll be 4 months old on Tuesday. Where has the time gone?

Pizza. Hubby picked up pizza from my new favorite pizza place in town. I had the "A Kiss Before I Go" that has Tomato Sauce, Fried Eggplant, Wild Mushrooms, Mozzarella, Carmelized Garlic, Fresh Basil, and Parmesan. Yum. Leftovers for lunch! I should have taken a picture, because their pizzas are so pretty, but I was too much of a pig!

Hair. Since I was beginning to debate if my grey hair was cool aka Stacy London or scary aka Cruella De ville, Hubby surprised me and coordinated a cut, highlights and a massage for me on Thursday. His parents had volunteered to come visit and watch the girls, so he surprised me with this treat and coordinated all the details. Wonderful. Hubby rocks!

All for now ... happy Saturday!

money, money, money

I bet the anticipation is killing you ... I wish I could tell everyone that there were bigger bills hiding under the ones ... when I first opened the drawer, I really thought that Hubby was gearing up for a bachelor party. So I had to ask him what was up with the cash stuffed in the drawer.

Apparently, it's one of his new savings plans - every night he takes all of the ones out of his money clip and saves them. I have been shocked how quickly it has added up. For me, this trick wouldn't work because I'm addicted to my debit card and rarely carry cash.

So no worries - he's staying away from dances that require tips and saving for the holidays. I've told you we buy for 25+ family members on his side, but that's a post for another day!

I'll leave you with a picture from a few days ago. The girls have recently discovered the Baby Einstein star from their floor mat. Baby Einstein star = coos, smiles, and wide eyed stares from m & l.

What would you think

if you opened your dresser drawer and saw this?





Would love to hear your thoughts!

miss manners

Don't people know that it's not polite to talk about people while they're still in earshot? I guess it's not polite to talk about people in general, but at least do it where I can't hear you.

Yes, I know that my babies are small, but if you were nice enough to say hello I would tell you that they are actually three and a half months old and that I know better than to take 2 day old infants out in public, and if you'd bother to ask me any questions, I could give you the long story that involves tales of bed rest, my water breaking, a c-section delivery, and ends with identical twin girls. And can anyone tell me why people think they are a boy and a girl? Especially when they are in matching PINK car seats, dressed in pink clothes, with girly pink toys dangling from their car seat?

I realize that this post makes me sound like I'm bitter and angry. I promise, I'm really not. Maybe I could go into my comedic mode and say, "You should've seen them when they weighed 3 and 4 pounds!" I guess I just get into my Mama Bear mode and get a little defensive. I need more comments like the one from my friend today (Hi MH!) who noticed how big they are getting and how much they have filled out.

Now, don't get me started on the grocery store employees who feel the need to pounce on me when I'm shopping and then grab their little hands. Not to be a germaphobe, but let's think about what the cashiers do all day? Handle dirty boxes and cans, dirty cash, and no telling what else. Next time, I'm self-checking and pushing the antibacterial wipes in their hands!

Can we go for three?

On Monday night Maddy and Libby slept from 10:30'ish to 5:30AM, and last night they slept from 11'ish to almost 7AM! I actually got up before them, and then of course went back to sleep for a few minutes! I really hope we're on the beginning of a trend - a full night's sleep would be heavenly for everyone.

So, let's hope for a third night, and a fourth night, etc. I love motherhood, I really do. But, I also love sleep and I miss it terribly. I think that I may now be addicted to my morning coffee and have actually caught myself trying to smell to see if it's already brewed before I make an unnecessary trip downstairs if it's not ready yet. Very sad.

We don't look like we'd scream & cry and keep everyone in the house awake, do we?

Halloween decor

Who needs the big inflatable spider when you have the real thing? I was working in the yard today when I noticed this guy hanging out near our azalea bushes.

I found out he's a writing spider ... harmless, but a little ominous looking. Wonder what he's trying to tell us?

Over the river and through the woods

It's really more like down the highway and on the Interstate ... to the Grandparents house we go.

Tomorrow will be the first family road trip (minus the dogs - they are heading to doggie camp for playtime, chilly swimming, and a bath) for Papaw's birthday. Since we need to be sure we bring everything that we might need for the day, we actually started a list that I need to pack up between now and tomorrow morning.

Diapers
Wipes
Burp cloths
Extra outfits
Pumped milk / bottles
Breast pump and empty containers
Small cooler
Formula
Blankets
Large blanket for floor
Mylicon drops and saline drops, just in case
Camera
Hand sanitizer
Baby Bjorns (possibly)
Couple of toys / rattles

What else? Luckily they have a pack and play so Maddy & Libby can nap there and it's one less thing that we don't have to bring. I'm sure there is something that we've forgotten. Keep your fingers crossed that they do well - it's only a 2.5 hour drive, but it's amazing how fast two little girls can get very loud!

dream, dream, dream

So what does it mean if you dream you're going on a job interview and you forget to put on your bra and contacts? Definitely two things I don't leave the house without.

Mom of the year award

That is exactly what I won't be winning.

I had an appointment to have Maddy & Libby's photos taken today. I knew that it would coincide with one of their feedings, so I packed bottles so I could feed them while we were at the studio. When we arrived Maddy was pretty fussy, so I decided to feed her while our favorite photog was getting set up.

I pulled out the little cooler bag and noticed it was upside down. No big deal, I thought until I unzipped it and noticed that the bottles were both less than half full. The milk had spilt all in the bag and leaked onto their extra change of clothes, blanket, etc. Such a bummer, because I knew they would be hungry, plus the milk is like liquid gold.

Of course, neither one was very happy with the less than stellar lunch, so I tried to breastfeed as well. In a very gorgeous studio with high ceilings, exposed brick walls, oh and with large windows everywhere and construction workers walking by, who are working on other studio spaces down the hall. Yeah, that didn't go over too well.

Luckily they were troopers and both did fine even though they had just had a little appetizer instead of a 3-course lunch . I would post photos, but of course the Mom of the year left my camera at home, so hopefully I'll have some great shots to show you in a couple of weeks.

Going to mark all of those damn bags with an UP arrow for our next outing!

Back to the books

Since I had the girls, and even while I was still pregnant, my reading really consisted of baby milestone books, what to expect kind of books, life with twin books, and of course children's books. Good Night Moon, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Pat the Bunny .... you know the deal.

I love to read, but it's really hard to make the time for it now. As a kid, I was obsessed and would read for hours. Just sit and read. I know my Mom loved it. I still love to read and finally tried to get back in the swing with my book club to read Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey. He wrote A Million Little Pieces, which I loved. Don't care if he made it up or not - I thought it was an incredible book and I think you must have spent some time heavily using drugs to write about some of the things he described in that book.

Back to Bright Shiny Morning ... Not sure how I'm feeling about it yet. It's written in his typically style - sometimes descriptive run on sentences or short one liners. Lots of chapters about life in Los Angeles, facts and figures about LA. I liked several of the characters, but I guess I was left waiting to know how they all interact. Maybe I missed something, but I guess they only had the city was their common thread. Anyone else read it?

I just started Bitter is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster. Can already tell that I will love it! Easy read, full of sarcasm and fun. What's not to love about that?

why i heart facebook

His friends post pictures of Hubby from his college days, circa 1990.


I love you! xxxooo!

hot damn

My Joes jeans fit! I kept eyeballing them in my closet, but was too afraid to try them on. I would glare and snarl at them on occassion for mocking me. For some reason, today I found courage deep within and tried them on. Still can't believe they fit, but Hallelujah, since I didn't want to have to start replacing my "good" jeans. If I have pants that fit, I can deal with buying new tops.